The Grizzlies have two vital home games in early conference play before an upcoming bye week. Up first is the Weber State Wildcats, who have been a real enigma this season so far. If you stack up the complied stats of Weber’s first 5 games they’re out-scoring and out-gaining opponents on average, yet they’re 2-3 on the season, but they’re 1-0 in conference play, just like Montana.
Last year Weber finished 6-5 on the season, but lost a ton to graduation. They returned 4 starters on offense and 5 starters on defense. Weber was voted to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big Sky this season (7th) and placed just 1 player on the all-conference team, DL Brayden Wilson.
Weber State Wildcats
3-35 loss vs Washington Huskies: UW ran for 200 and passed for nearly 280, I see Weber was 4 for 17 on 3rd down (but 3 for 5 on 4th). Weber didn’t even have 100 passing yards in the game.
43-16 win vs Portland State: In an early conference game it was a close one at the half, Weber had a 16-10 lead. In the 2nd half Weber would stretch out the lead and PSU would only score a TD (failed 2 pt) to run away with the game. Weber’s offense was on fire, 316 rushing and 219 passing. The Weber defense forced 1 INT, 1 fumble lost, and held PSU to 5 of 15 on 3rd down and just 240 total yards.
16-17 loss @ Lamar: This one was a head scratcher loss for Weber. It was tied 10-10 at the half after a Weber state pick-6. In the 3rd quarter Weber scores but doesn’t connect on the PAT so they’re up 16-10, Lamar answers – they score on the next drive and go up 17-16, Weber puts together another drive but misses a field goal. Lamar then puts together a long drive, but turns it on downs at the Weber 3. Weber, with the ball and a chance to win the game goes the full length of the field and milks 8 minutes of clock in the 4th. They get all the way to the Lamar 1 yard line and facing a 4th and 1 at the Lamar 1, they opt for the TD instead of the field goal and get stuffed, a field goal would’ve put them up 19-17. Lamar goes 3 and out, punts to Weber. The Wildcats put together a desperation drive, starting at mid-field with 44 seconds left in the game, getting to the Lamar 23… but would miss the game winner at time expired. Neither team passed for much, both in the 180’s. Lamar would rush for over 200.
39-0 loss @ Northwestern State: A good shutout bounce back win, Weber would pass for over 300 and rush for about 150, all while holding NSU to just about 150 total yards and 9 total first downs in the whole game. The teams were a combined 5-30 on 3rd down.
26-28 loss vs McNeese State: It was a low scoring first half, just a 7-6 McNeese lead, Weber tried for a 2 point conversion but didn’t get it. The 2nd half saw the teams trade 2 TD scores each over the course of 5 possessions. Then, there were three, 3 and outs in a row as McNeese was clinging to a 2 point lead. Weber’s last score came with 8 minutes left in the game, with another failed 2 point conversion that would’ve tied the game at 28. Weber’s last drive they crossed midfield but turned it over on downs and McNeese wouldn’t give the ball back. McNeese (lead by Clifton McDowell) ran for 220 and passed for 203, meanwhile Weber’s ground game piled up 290 rushing but just 130 passing.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game GRIZ (215 for GRIZ vs 202 for WEB)
Rushing yards per game GRIZ (285 for GRIZ vs 191 for WEB)
Total offense GRIZ (500 for GRIZ vs 393 for WEB)
Passing yards allowed per game WEB (215 for GRIZ vs 171 for WEB)
Rushing yards allowed per game GRIZ (140 for GRIZ vs 166 for WEB)
Total defense WEB (355 for GRIZ vs 337 for WEB)
Weber’s defense (unsurprisingly) gives them 2 while Montana’s offense and a slightly better rush defense gets them 4.
Offense points scored GRIZ (42 for GRIZ vs 25.4 for WEB)
Defense points allowed WEB (27.4 for GRIZ vs 19.2 for WEB)
Turnover margin WEB (+1 for GRIZ / + 3 for WEB)
Field goal % GRIZ (64% for GRIZ vs 57% for WEB)
Punt Returns GRIZ (8.25 yards for GRIZ vs 7.3 yards for WEB)
Kick Returns WEB (22.9 yards for GRIZ vs 24.4 yards for WEB)
T.O.P. GRIZ (29:33 for GRIZ vs 29:29 for WEB)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) GRIZ (66% GRIZ / 83% WEB)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (65% GRIZ / 50% WEB)
3rd down offense GRIZ – (40% for GRIZ / 29.1% for WEB)
3rd down defense WEB – (42% allowed for GRIZ vs 38.2% allowed for WEB)
Griz get 7, Weber gets 4. The totals shape up to Montana 11 and Weber 6. TOP is damn near a push though...
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Weber Players to Watch:
#1 Damon Bankston, RB – In the Big Sky there’s a clear crop of the four best backs. Eli Gillman, Scottre Humphrey, Lan Larison, and Damon Bankston. Damon is 3rd highest in the Big Sky with 517 rushing yards, he’s averaging a little over 103 rushing per game and has 5 rushing TDs this season. He’s also got 63 receiving yards as well. He’s a workhorse with 30 more touches than Gillman, he’s the feature back that we’ll see a lot.
#10 Richie Munoz, QB – At 5-11, 215 he’s a dual threat QB in Weber’s offense, he’s averaging about 191 per game, but just on 57% completion. He has 7 passing TDs and just 1 INT. He’s also got 107 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD this season as well.
#14 Jacob Sharp, WR – A covid shirt super senior, he’s leading the team in receiving yards by a wide margin. He has almost double the amount of catches of the next highest on the team, he has 338 yards and 2 receiving TDs.
#35 Kemari Munier-Bailey, DE – Formerly a Vandal in 2022 and lead the team in sacks then, transferred to Fresno but that seemingly didn’t work, so he hopped back to the FCS and is the sack leader at Weber with 5 already. He has 10.5 TFLs and 24 tackles this season. He’s going to be a handful for the Grizzly OL.
#94 Brayden Wilson, DE – A first team all conference choice (as previously mentioned). He’s got 25 tackles this season, 1 sack, 2.5 TFLs.
#13 Garrett Beck, LB – A 6-4 linebacker that’s been a long time Weber contributor. He’s leading the team in stops this season, he has 27 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack. He also has 1 forced fumble this season.
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
I like that this game is at home, and my hope is that the Montana crowd can help the Grizzly defense find some mojo again too. Right now the forecast is calling for another great summer day and it should be a fun one here in Missoula. Weber is better than their record suggests and is coming here focused on knocking off the Griz. They have the design and guys on offense to do it, and a defense that will actually make some stops – unlike EWU’s.
I’m seeing a Grizzly win, I am worried about an EWU hangover, and if this Weber D-line can actually cause some issues and throw Montana off schedule enough to make it a game. Could be more of a grind-out game than some might expect. I’ll say Griz take it, but frustrations aren’t fully eased with the defense just yet. Griz win 33-24.
Go Griz!
Last year Weber finished 6-5 on the season, but lost a ton to graduation. They returned 4 starters on offense and 5 starters on defense. Weber was voted to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big Sky this season (7th) and placed just 1 player on the all-conference team, DL Brayden Wilson.
Weber State Wildcats
3-35 loss vs Washington Huskies: UW ran for 200 and passed for nearly 280, I see Weber was 4 for 17 on 3rd down (but 3 for 5 on 4th). Weber didn’t even have 100 passing yards in the game.
43-16 win vs Portland State: In an early conference game it was a close one at the half, Weber had a 16-10 lead. In the 2nd half Weber would stretch out the lead and PSU would only score a TD (failed 2 pt) to run away with the game. Weber’s offense was on fire, 316 rushing and 219 passing. The Weber defense forced 1 INT, 1 fumble lost, and held PSU to 5 of 15 on 3rd down and just 240 total yards.
16-17 loss @ Lamar: This one was a head scratcher loss for Weber. It was tied 10-10 at the half after a Weber state pick-6. In the 3rd quarter Weber scores but doesn’t connect on the PAT so they’re up 16-10, Lamar answers – they score on the next drive and go up 17-16, Weber puts together another drive but misses a field goal. Lamar then puts together a long drive, but turns it on downs at the Weber 3. Weber, with the ball and a chance to win the game goes the full length of the field and milks 8 minutes of clock in the 4th. They get all the way to the Lamar 1 yard line and facing a 4th and 1 at the Lamar 1, they opt for the TD instead of the field goal and get stuffed, a field goal would’ve put them up 19-17. Lamar goes 3 and out, punts to Weber. The Wildcats put together a desperation drive, starting at mid-field with 44 seconds left in the game, getting to the Lamar 23… but would miss the game winner at time expired. Neither team passed for much, both in the 180’s. Lamar would rush for over 200.
39-0 loss @ Northwestern State: A good shutout bounce back win, Weber would pass for over 300 and rush for about 150, all while holding NSU to just about 150 total yards and 9 total first downs in the whole game. The teams were a combined 5-30 on 3rd down.
26-28 loss vs McNeese State: It was a low scoring first half, just a 7-6 McNeese lead, Weber tried for a 2 point conversion but didn’t get it. The 2nd half saw the teams trade 2 TD scores each over the course of 5 possessions. Then, there were three, 3 and outs in a row as McNeese was clinging to a 2 point lead. Weber’s last score came with 8 minutes left in the game, with another failed 2 point conversion that would’ve tied the game at 28. Weber’s last drive they crossed midfield but turned it over on downs and McNeese wouldn’t give the ball back. McNeese (lead by Clifton McDowell) ran for 220 and passed for 203, meanwhile Weber’s ground game piled up 290 rushing but just 130 passing.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game GRIZ (215 for GRIZ vs 202 for WEB)
Rushing yards per game GRIZ (285 for GRIZ vs 191 for WEB)
Total offense GRIZ (500 for GRIZ vs 393 for WEB)
Passing yards allowed per game WEB (215 for GRIZ vs 171 for WEB)
Rushing yards allowed per game GRIZ (140 for GRIZ vs 166 for WEB)
Total defense WEB (355 for GRIZ vs 337 for WEB)
Weber’s defense (unsurprisingly) gives them 2 while Montana’s offense and a slightly better rush defense gets them 4.
Offense points scored GRIZ (42 for GRIZ vs 25.4 for WEB)
Defense points allowed WEB (27.4 for GRIZ vs 19.2 for WEB)
Turnover margin WEB (+1 for GRIZ / + 3 for WEB)
Field goal % GRIZ (64% for GRIZ vs 57% for WEB)
Punt Returns GRIZ (8.25 yards for GRIZ vs 7.3 yards for WEB)
Kick Returns WEB (22.9 yards for GRIZ vs 24.4 yards for WEB)
T.O.P. GRIZ (29:33 for GRIZ vs 29:29 for WEB)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) GRIZ (66% GRIZ / 83% WEB)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (65% GRIZ / 50% WEB)
3rd down offense GRIZ – (40% for GRIZ / 29.1% for WEB)
3rd down defense WEB – (42% allowed for GRIZ vs 38.2% allowed for WEB)
Griz get 7, Weber gets 4. The totals shape up to Montana 11 and Weber 6. TOP is damn near a push though...
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Weber Players to Watch:
#1 Damon Bankston, RB – In the Big Sky there’s a clear crop of the four best backs. Eli Gillman, Scottre Humphrey, Lan Larison, and Damon Bankston. Damon is 3rd highest in the Big Sky with 517 rushing yards, he’s averaging a little over 103 rushing per game and has 5 rushing TDs this season. He’s also got 63 receiving yards as well. He’s a workhorse with 30 more touches than Gillman, he’s the feature back that we’ll see a lot.
#10 Richie Munoz, QB – At 5-11, 215 he’s a dual threat QB in Weber’s offense, he’s averaging about 191 per game, but just on 57% completion. He has 7 passing TDs and just 1 INT. He’s also got 107 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD this season as well.
#14 Jacob Sharp, WR – A covid shirt super senior, he’s leading the team in receiving yards by a wide margin. He has almost double the amount of catches of the next highest on the team, he has 338 yards and 2 receiving TDs.
#35 Kemari Munier-Bailey, DE – Formerly a Vandal in 2022 and lead the team in sacks then, transferred to Fresno but that seemingly didn’t work, so he hopped back to the FCS and is the sack leader at Weber with 5 already. He has 10.5 TFLs and 24 tackles this season. He’s going to be a handful for the Grizzly OL.
#94 Brayden Wilson, DE – A first team all conference choice (as previously mentioned). He’s got 25 tackles this season, 1 sack, 2.5 TFLs.
#13 Garrett Beck, LB – A 6-4 linebacker that’s been a long time Weber contributor. He’s leading the team in stops this season, he has 27 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack. He also has 1 forced fumble this season.
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
- Win in the trenches. This will be strength on strength. Weber’s DL is maybe one of the more talented ones the Griz have seen, so far. The Grizzly ground game has really been kicking ass of late – if they can show their strength again that’ll bode well for the day. On the opposite side Weber has a tough and physical OL that will look to bully our defensive front, and if the EWU game gives us a hint, they’re going to have success there. Need to limit what they can get running the ball.
- Make small defensive improvements. I’m just going to guess that based on the WCU and EWU films that Weber is going to try to work tempo on the Grizzly defense in an effort to maximize rushing yards. If the Grizzly defense can shore things up a bit, make a few stops, prevent Weber from 6+ YPC that could show some improvement.
- Limit errors. Weber has taken advantage of turnovers in some games, sloppy play giving Weber short field advantages will hurt the Griz big time.
- Tighten up as the field gets shorter. Until this defense can prove otherwise to me, I just feel that we’re going to see opponents get yards on the Griz. Weber’s kicker is pretty iffy, if the Grizzlies can stand tall once Weber makes some RZ trips we could steal a possession or two where Weber comes away with no points.
- Be the better team on 3rd down. Weber’s defense is good on 3rd, conversely Montana’s offense is as well. The Griz are going to have to make a lot of successful 3rd down conversions against a stout Weber front.
- I think Montana will need another balanced game here, can’t just rely on running the ball. I’d love to see 200+ rushing and passing.
- With the much maligned defense right now and a Weber team that shows some, but not a lot of great passing skills, would making some adjustments bringing in another LB or DL help? Stopping their ground game is a must.
I like that this game is at home, and my hope is that the Montana crowd can help the Grizzly defense find some mojo again too. Right now the forecast is calling for another great summer day and it should be a fun one here in Missoula. Weber is better than their record suggests and is coming here focused on knocking off the Griz. They have the design and guys on offense to do it, and a defense that will actually make some stops – unlike EWU’s.
I’m seeing a Grizzly win, I am worried about an EWU hangover, and if this Weber D-line can actually cause some issues and throw Montana off schedule enough to make it a game. Could be more of a grind-out game than some might expect. I’ll say Griz take it, but frustrations aren’t fully eased with the defense just yet. Griz win 33-24.
Go Griz!
